Girls 4A State Preview
4A will get a full day's rest between prelims and Finals, which could help Monroe and Westover. Points out on the Field will be at a premium and all but the National Elite athletes will have to go full bore in the Track prelims just to Q' for 'Finals Saturday' This classification is clearly the 2nd strongest All-Class and it's a drag we will never see the same power squads compete against each other again.
On paper its wide open, as 5-6 schools have a great chance to win this thing.Marist has all the pieces in place to repeat as 4A Girls state champs sporting a balanced attack on the Field, with veterans Kamryn Brinson and Bailey Weiland. Distance aces Morgan Ilse and Kendall Nelson could work their magic on the track and give the War Eagles a huge lead going into Saturday. Monroe Albany always picks it up at on their turf/mondo. Redan, Woodland-Stockbridge, Westover, Fayette, Shaw and Eagle's Landing are all Podium contenders.
The prelims on Thursday will be hotly contested, and only the best athletes will be able to cruise a bit. Points will be at a premium on the Field Thursday with Marist having an advantage with Brinson & Weiland. Monroe Albany soph Jahari Williams LJ'd 18-7 at Sectionals and thrower Ashley Harrell could score big points in the Shot charging up the Lady Tornadoes. Courtney Bennett from Liberty County has thrown well recently so watch out for her in both Throws events.
The Hurdles events will be a great battle for 2nd if Chinyere Njoku from Fayette County is hitting on all cylinders as she's a big favorite to double coming in. Jahari Williams has been smokin' the track the past 2 weeks and's the woman to beat in the short Sprints with pr's of 11.90/24.60. The Girls 400m is wide open with 6 athletes having gone sub :58 Caitie Faust of Marist clocked a 2:15 last Saturday and is the favorite to take the 800m. Redan and Fayette County have the top relay squads out of Sectionals and these events could possibly have a big impact on final team scores.
Marist has the potential to put 36 distance points on the 'wooden scoreboards' behind nationally ranked Morgan Ilse and frosh Kendall Nelson. Sarah Bearden of Lagrange and Alyssa Weaver from Pickens County could be in tight quarters with Nelson for 2nd in both events.